One thought helped Elena gain clarity: it was better for her children to have a gay mom than a dead mom. Slowly, she began rebuilding her life and family and rewriting her mot(her) code. Today, she gives back to the LGBTQ+ community through the Pride and Joy Foundation, which aims to prevent suicides and homelessness in gay communities. She is a corporate consultant, leading companies to take actionable measures to enhance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. She is also a sought-after speaker; her TEDx talk went viral, gaining thousands of views online. She is giving hope to LGBTQ+ mothers worldwide through her brave story. Find out more about how you can work with Elena Joy Thurston here. Show highlightsThe pandemic’s effects on LGBTQ+ communities and the birth of the Pride and Joy Foundation, which aims to prevent suicides and homelessness in the LGBTQ+ communityElena’s journey into religion and the Mormon Church, with its inevitable conflict with her sexual orientation Her marriage and her biological mothering journey Her life is  chaotic when she comes out of the closet and finds a “therapist” that promises to convert her. 50 percent of participants become suicidal, and that’s where she found herselfThe fear of doing things “right” and “wrong” in mothering